In the gaming world everyone loves the shiny, new thing. But when that fascination gets in the way of appreciating enduring quality, it should be resisted. Even though several years past its release date, now, I still say that, in the category of free games, still the top of the line in the best games for PC remains this swell bossa nova noir game, as I like to call it, Gravity Bones. A delightful standalone game, it immerses the player in a kind of avant garde art piece, functioning as a first person player mode, where we find ourselves strolling through a world of spy-like intrigue.
There are only two levels and you can play through the entire thing in probably about 20 minutes - at least once you figure out how the heck to get to that fourth bird. It is mission based with a learning arch embedded into the process, which is executed quite cleverly. It comes in a zip file and needs no installation. It requires about 20MB of disk space.
None of that though really gives you a sense of what's so great and fun about this game. It is experience-based and beautifully realized. Though technically a first-person game that description is misleading. This one kind of busts open a genre all of its own: bossa nova noir!
It wouldn't be accurate to deny it having a story, but the sense of story is much more sophisticated than the paint-by-numbers storytelling of so many popular games. As the various tasks are fulfilled a story does take shape, but what is exactly happening is always a bit up in the air. Indeed, in keeping with the distinctive visual style, it wouldn't be unfair to compare this game to a avant garde film: which is to say that the story is subject to considerable interpretation.
Right from the start you're thrust into a kind of Euro-spy scene as you find yourself wandering amid elegantly dressed blockheads (really, you have to see it, to understand) all making merry at some black tie cocktail party spread out over a series of terraces with spectacular views of a lake and surrounding mountains. A smooth bossa nova sound track follows you among the crowd. You're already on your first mission the moment you're out of the elevator.
This first level, really more a test run, is rapidly completed. Then you're coming off a second elevator and things are a little more elaborate and complicated this time, as you have to find your way through back corridors and across catwalks on an ominous and stormy night.
I have almost no criticisms of this elegant and compact great little game. The one thing I didn't like though was the clue cards, invariably telling you to head to a furnace room. I could have totally done without those. And, in fact, I did do without them. I simply ignored them and had a lot more fun finding my way about through exploratory trial and error. At most the cards should be optional, I think. My method was loads more fun.
The aesthetics of this game are almost as much fun as the play. Boldly foregoing the usual polygon realism the game conjures up a vivid world of its own that works beautifully with an espionage sensibility that stops just short of being self-mocking. It's maybe ironic without descending into cheesy.
This game is delightful in both it brevity and creativity. It's a real treat that is still our number one choice among free games for the list of best games for PC .
There are only two levels and you can play through the entire thing in probably about 20 minutes - at least once you figure out how the heck to get to that fourth bird. It is mission based with a learning arch embedded into the process, which is executed quite cleverly. It comes in a zip file and needs no installation. It requires about 20MB of disk space.
None of that though really gives you a sense of what's so great and fun about this game. It is experience-based and beautifully realized. Though technically a first-person game that description is misleading. This one kind of busts open a genre all of its own: bossa nova noir!
It wouldn't be accurate to deny it having a story, but the sense of story is much more sophisticated than the paint-by-numbers storytelling of so many popular games. As the various tasks are fulfilled a story does take shape, but what is exactly happening is always a bit up in the air. Indeed, in keeping with the distinctive visual style, it wouldn't be unfair to compare this game to a avant garde film: which is to say that the story is subject to considerable interpretation.
Right from the start you're thrust into a kind of Euro-spy scene as you find yourself wandering amid elegantly dressed blockheads (really, you have to see it, to understand) all making merry at some black tie cocktail party spread out over a series of terraces with spectacular views of a lake and surrounding mountains. A smooth bossa nova sound track follows you among the crowd. You're already on your first mission the moment you're out of the elevator.
This first level, really more a test run, is rapidly completed. Then you're coming off a second elevator and things are a little more elaborate and complicated this time, as you have to find your way through back corridors and across catwalks on an ominous and stormy night.
I have almost no criticisms of this elegant and compact great little game. The one thing I didn't like though was the clue cards, invariably telling you to head to a furnace room. I could have totally done without those. And, in fact, I did do without them. I simply ignored them and had a lot more fun finding my way about through exploratory trial and error. At most the cards should be optional, I think. My method was loads more fun.
The aesthetics of this game are almost as much fun as the play. Boldly foregoing the usual polygon realism the game conjures up a vivid world of its own that works beautifully with an espionage sensibility that stops just short of being self-mocking. It's maybe ironic without descending into cheesy.
This game is delightful in both it brevity and creativity. It's a real treat that is still our number one choice among free games for the list of best games for PC .
About the Author:
To get the news on the top pay games for PC, you have to check out Mickey Jhonny's picks of the best games for PC. Those interested in the joys of emersive, parallel worlds will love his article over at Pretty Much Dead Already on the phenomenon of the Walking Dead Fanfiction .
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